ii. Objective of this exercise was to ascertain preparedness of the ICG
in responding to a major oil spill in accordance with provisions of National
Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan. Particiopation of one ICG Pollution
Control Vessel and Indian Coast Guard Dornier/Chetak aircraft aircraft were the
key highlights of this exercise.

iii. The exercise was conducted under observation of Coast Guard
Regional Commander, KR Suresh. ICG has been entrusted with the responsibility
to protect marine environment in the maritime zones of India and is also the
coordinating authority for response to oil spills in Indian waters.

ii. The theme of this summit is “The Irreversible Rise of India”. During
the summit, eminent world leaders like former US President Barack Obama and
Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah shared their perspectives on
India’s rise in the world.

iv. HT Leadership Summit is being
held annually since last 14 years and has served as a platform for
revolutionary ideas.

4.INDO – UK JOINT ARMY EXERCISE AJEYA WARRIOR 2017 BEGINS IN
BIKANER

i. Joint Indo-United Kingdom army training exercise ‘Ajeya Warrior 2017’
begun at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Ajeya Warrior 2017′
will be the third joint military exercise between India and UK. 1st exercise
was conducted in 2013 in Belgaum, Karnataka and 2nd exercise was conducted in
2015 in UK.

ii. Approximately 120 army personnel from India and UK are participating
in ‘Ajeya Warrior 2017’ exercise. Objective of this exercise is to build and
promote bilateral army to army coordination and enhance interoperability. The
exercise also involves skill and experience sharing activities.

5.INDIA, SINGAPORE SIGN AGREEMENT ON ENHANCING NAVAL COOPERATION

i. India and Singapore sign agreement on enhancing naval cooperation.
The agreement will enhance security of sea lanes between the two countries. The
Singapore Defence minister Ng Eng Hen was in India and signed the agreement
with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

ii. A Navy to Navy agreement was also signed between the two nations
that will allow temporary deployments and logistic support in each other's
bases.

6.IMF APPROVES NEW USD 88 BILLION CREDIT LINE FOR MEXICO

i. The International Monetary Fund has approved a new USD 88 billion
credit line for Mexico, replacing the existing line.

ii. The two-year flexible credit line boosts Mexico’s ability to
immediately deal with a potential need for liquidity, without having to request
an IMF loan.

7.GOVT FIXES SOVEREIGN GOLD BONDS RATE AT RS 2,952/GRAM

i. The government has fixed 2,952 rupees per gram as price of new series
of sovereign gold bonds. The government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank,
has decided to offer a discount of Rs 50 per gram to investors applying online
and making payments digitally.

ii. The issue price will be Rs 2,902 a gram for investors applying
online and the payment through digital mode.

iii. About Sovereign Gold Bond- Sovereign Gold Bonds are Government
securities denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold. They are substitute for
investment in physical gold. To buy the bond, investor has to pay the issue
price in cash to an authorised SEBI Broker. These Bonds are issued by the
Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Government of India and are traded on
stock exchange.

8.CBDT SIGNS TWO INDIAN ADVANCE PRICING AGREEMENTS

i. The Central Board of Direct Taxes has entered into 2 Bilateral
Advance Pricing Agreements. These Agreements are the first ever Bilateral APAs
with The Netherlands.

ii. With the signing of these Agreements, the total number of APAs
entered into by the CBDT has gone up to 186. This includes 171 Unilateral APAs
and 15 Bilateral APAs. These two APAs pertain to the Electronics and Technology
sectors of the economy.

9.CABINET APPROVES SETTING UP OF NATIONAL NUTRITION MISSION

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Shri Narendra Modi has approved
setting up of National Nutrition Mission with a three year budget of Rs.9046.17
cr commencing from 2017-18.

ii. The program through the targets will strive to reduce the level of
stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight babies. More than 10
crore people will be benefited by this program. This will be funded by
Government Budgetary Support (50%) and 50% by IBRD or other MDB.

10.DIA MIRZA APPOINTED AS UN ENVIRONMENT GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR
INDIA

i. Former Miss Asia Pacific Dia Mirza was appointed as UN Environment’s
Goodwill Ambassador for India. A long-standing supporter of environmental
conservation, Dia will take up the role to add more weight to her work on
raising awareness of and seeking solutions to environmental issues.

ii. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Dia will work with the United Nations to
further spread the message on priority areas including clean air, clean seas,
wildlife protection and climate change.

11.SHARED VALUE SUMMIT HELD IN NEW DELHI

i. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Suresh Prabhu was the chief
guest for the Shared Value Summit 2017. The summit was held in New Delhi. The
theme for this summit was “Equity and Empowerment”.

ii. Mr Prabhu will unveil the Inclusive Business List and Emerging
Social Enterprise List for the year 2017.

12.MARKET REGULATOR SEBI ENHANCES GOVERNANCE FOR MUTUAL FUNDS

i. In a bid to strengthen the governance structure for mutual funds,
Securities and Exchange Board of India has introduced a framework for the
tenure of independent trustees as well as directors. Norms to enhance
governance for Mutual Funds: An independent trustee and independent director of
mutual fund, Asset management company will hold office for a maximum of two
terms. Each term should not exceed a period of five consecutive years.

ii. Such individuals will be eligible for re-appointment only after a
cooling-off period of three years, during which, such individuals should not be
associated with the concerned mutual fund, asset Management Company in any
manner. Existing independent trustees and independent directors have been
permitted to hold office for a maximum of 10 years.

iii. Mutual fund should not appoint an auditor for more than two terms
of maximum five consecutive years. Such auditor may be re-appointed after a
cooling-off period of five years.

13.WORLD AIDS DAY: 1 DECEMBER

i. World AIDS day is celebrated every year all over the world on
December 1st to raise the public awareness about Acquired Immuno Deficiency
Syndrome, AIDS. The theme for World AIDS day 2017 is 'Right to health'.

ii. It is a pandemic disease caused due to the infection of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus.

OBJECTIVE
QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS

Q1. WITH WHICH COUNTRY, INDIA HAD SIGNED MOU FOR COOPERATION IN
AGRICULTURE AND PHYTOSANITARYISSUES?